A recent study presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2024 annual meeting suggests that a single dose of radiation therapy may be as effective as multiple treatments for lung cancer tumors located centrally in the lung. This approach, utilizing single-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), demonstrated promising results in a pilot study conducted at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Efficacy of Single-Fraction SBRT
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is already a well-established treatment for peripheral lung tumors. However, its effectiveness for central lung tumors has been less clear. The new study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of single-fraction SBRT in these more challenging cases.
Mark Farrugia, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Oncology and Radiation Medicine at Roswell Park, presented the findings at ASTRO 2024. He noted that treating central lung tumors poses more challenges due to their proximity to critical structures. The pilot study revealed high rates of tumor control and low toxicity, suggesting that single-fraction SBRT could be a viable option.
Reducing Risk to Organs
The study also explored the possibility of reducing the radiation dose to nearby organs at risk. Anurag Singh, MD, Professor of Oncology and Director of Radiation Research at Roswell Park, and senior author of the study, explained, "We wondered whether reducing the radiation dose to the organs at risk — even at the expense of controlling the tumor — would lower the risk of toxicity while still achieving acceptable local control. Indeed, this appears to be the case."
Study Details and Implications
The research, with Nadia Malik, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology and Director of Thoracic Radiation Services at Roswell Park, as the first author, provides a foundation for further investigation into optimized radiation therapy protocols. The findings suggest that carefully calibrated single-fraction SBRT can achieve effective tumor control while minimizing potential side effects.
The study abstract, titled "A Pilot Study of Single Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) in Central Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer," offers additional details on the study design and outcomes. These insights may lead to improved treatment strategies for patients with centrally located lung tumors, addressing a critical unmet need in radiation oncology.
